To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Blue Ridge Parkway, members of the U.S. Congress from Virginia and North Carolina have joined together to introduce legislation authorizing the National Park Service to acquire up to 50,000 acres of additional land surrounding the historic roadway.

The Blue Ridge Parkway, which runs through the Twin Counties, will celebrate its anniversary in September.

To hear the list of emergencies that the Wood’s River Chapter of the Red Cross responded to since mid-December, it’s been a disastrous month.

It started with the blizzard that fell on Southwest Virginia Dec. 18, followed by one thing after another for the emergency aid agency that covers the City of Galax and Grayson, Carroll and Wythe counties, said Director Joan Isom. The emergencies ranged from winter weather to a hostage situation at the Wytheville Post Office to a mass displacement of people from apartments in Hillsville to a rash of single-family home fires.

RICHMOND — While introducing legislation that would slow down Appalachian Power Co.'s ability to increase its rates, Del. Bill Carrico (R-Grayson County) is also sponsoring a bill that would increase speeds on Virginia's highways.

Along with other legislation being offered this year, Carrico is sponsoring HB856, which would increase the general speed limit on highways where it is presently 65 mph to 70.

Carrico told The Gazette that he was approached by the newly elected governor's policy team to bring the issue before the General Assembly.

Chestnut Creek School of the Arts' renovations were complete in late 2009, a slew of Galax city workers and volunteers helped full- and part-time staff move into the former First National Bank building in downtown Galax last week and classes will begin today, Monday, weather permitting.

One of the most memorable volleyball seasons in Galax High School history keeps producing more good memories as Maroon Tide coach Rose Houk has been nominated as the 2009-10 Virginia volleyball coach of the year. As a result, Houk was also nominated for national volleyball coach of the year. Houk is well known throughout the state for her dedication to and love for the sport she has coached for the past 29 years.